"The Sound of Music" The New Theatre Restaurant

To this day, if you ask my father what his favorite movie of all time is, his response goes something like this: “Even though this movie was played in our home probably three times a week in the 1980’s, it is still The Sound of Music”. He is referring to me, being about 4 years old, falling in love with the movie and watching it over and over…and over. Just for the record, he is not over-exaggerating when he says it was watched about 3 times a week in our home. The other members of our household can attest to this.

Therefore, when it comes to seeing my beloved movie performed live as a musical, I am always a little critical. I mean, it’s a rather lofty task to try to re-create the magic of the movie, with Julie Andrews as Maria, the 7 children marching down into the grand lobby of their mansion, and the beautiful backdrop of Austria. Not to mention I notice every single line that is spoken differently than the movie.

With all of that being said, The New Theatre’s production of The Sound of Music was very good. Despite a few microphone issues in the beginning, Leigh Ann Larkin portrayed Maria Rainer rather beautifully. She has a wonderful voice and was angelic with the children, who also made the performance delightful. There are 2 different casts of the 7 children (brownie points if you add a comment and can name them in order from youngest to oldest) and we just happen to catch the last performance for cast #1. During the curtain call, Ron Bohmer, who played Captain Georg von Trap, expressed an emotional thank you and goodbye to all the talented children he and the rest of the cast had been blessed to work with. It was an unforgettable moment, I’m sure, for the teary-eyed talented young stars. Ok, it made me get a little choked up, too.

I want to quickly mention a dessert item on the NTR menu for this performance. Check out the Chocolate Ice Cream Burrrrrgers, or how I referred to it when ordering, “The funky burger-looking thing”. It is 2 toasted almond cookies sandwiching chocolate ice cream, and strawberry and kiwi slices. It is also served with crinkle-cut cantaloupe slices and “ketchup” (a strawberry glaze). So fun and ingenious!

**Since this is my first time writing about a show at the New Theatre Restaurant show, I should probably provide a little history. My father and I have been going to the New Theatre Restaurant since it first opened, 17 years ago. Yes, you read that correctly. I was 11 years old when the New Theatre Restaurant first opened. We received a flier in the mail listing the shows, and I remember asking my dad if he would take me to the musical. Much to my surprise and excitement, he responded by saying, “Well why don’t we just get season tickets?” For 17 years now, going to the New Theatre Restaurant has been “our thing”. He has even kept every program from every single show we’ve seen together. Special times, for sure.

http://www.newtheatre.com/cs/cs_s17s5.html